New Airline Rules on Devices: What You Need to Know

The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that airlines can soon begin allowing fliers to use their electronic devices during all phases of flight. The Journal answers your most pressing questions on the policy change:

Q: What happened?A: The FAA changed its guidelines for how airlines can allow fliers to use smartphones, tablets and other gadgets below 10,000 feet. The new standards make it much simpler for airlines to prove that their aircraft are tolerant to any potential electronic transmissions from fliers’ devices. Under the new guidelines, virtually all airlines are soon expected to allow fliers to use devices from gate to gate, some as earlier as year-end.

Q: What devices can I use?A: Virtually all common consumer electronics. The FAA recommends that airlines allow passengers to use handheld devices such as smartphones, tablets and e-readers during all phases of flights. During takeoffs and landings, the FAA said passengers must stow larger items like laptops. All devices must remain in airplane mode.

Q: Wait, I can use my smartphone?A: Your smartphone must be in airplane mode during flight. Voice phone calls remain prohibited. Cellular connections are banned by the Federal Communication Commission, and virtually all airlines prohibit fliers from making phone calls using the Internet, such as via the applications Skype or Viber. However, if onboard Wi-Fi is available, fliers can turn on their phones’ Wi-Fi connections and connect to the Internet.

Q: Wi-Fi will now be allowed below 10,000 feet?A: Yes. However, many airlines’ Wi-Fi systems don’t function at that altitude, and if they do, it is up to the airlines to make the connectivity available.

Gogo, the largest in-flight Wi-Fi provider in the U.S., said its service doesn’t function well below 10,000 feet. Gogo is on Delta Air Lines, US Airways, Alaska Airlines, Virgin America, most of the American Airlines fleet and the transcontinental fleet at United Airlines.

But Wi-Fi could be available from gate to gate on Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, most of United’s fleet and several of American Airlines’ largest aircraft because they use different Wi-Fi providers. Those carriers said they are still evaluating whether to open up Wi-Fi below 10,000 feet.

These Wi-Fi services also charge for access. Gogo, for example, charges $14 for a 24-hour pass.

Q: When can I start using my device under 10,000 feet?A: The FAA said it expects many carriers to be able to allow devices below 10,000 feet by the end of the year. But some airlines are already racing to be first. Delta Air Lines said it would be ready by Friday, pending FAA approval, while JetBlue Airways said it was hopeful it could get approval as early as Thursday night.

Q: So I thought electronic devices were dangerous to aircraft? What changed?A: Regulators had long restricted devices out of an abundance of caution, in part because of anecdotal evidence that emissions from electronic devices interfered with cockpit instruments on aircraft. But newer, more tolerant aircraft, redundant cockpit systems and more reliant devices that are less prone to defects all helped assure a federal advisory committee that the risk had been lowered “to an acceptable level.”

However, in low visibility situations when certain cockpit instruments may be necessary to land, the FAA said passengers must turn off their devices. These situations represent 1% of all landings, the FAA said.